CORK

CORK, (AP) – A plane carrying 12 small planes carrying people crashed and caught fire Thursday while attempting to land at the airport in heavy fog atCork southwest of Ireland, killing at least six people, authorities said. Cork County Council, which oversees emergency services, said six people died and six others wounded. The Irish Aviation responsible for the management of the airport authority said the fog was so thick that air traffic controllers in a tower nearby could not see the accident, only to hear it.

Council spokeswoman Kay Keegan said two passengers were cut from the wreckage, and all six survivors – among them the passenger with severe burns – were taken toCork University Hospital. The Irish Aviation Authority said the plane; a turboprop rented from the Isle of Man based airline Manx2.com two abortive attempts to land before crashing on the third attempt. He had traveled from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Authority chief executive Eamonn Brennan said that the pilots were seeking the help of instruments. It said that prevailing winds were low and not a factor, whileCork suffers from frequent fog.

Brennan said the first pilot attempted to land on the runway, but pulled up, then immediately tried again on the northern runway, but stopped that too. He said the pilot waited another 20 minutes, then tried again the southern runway – but does not reach.

Brennan said the aircraft struck the edge of the runway and its tail falling off or in a field near the runway, catching fire in the process.